Climate Change Data

Wizz Air Holdings Plc

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:1,303,398 tCO2e (Scope 1 & 2)
Scope 1 Emissions:1,290,647 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:2,197 tCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:n.m.
Renewable Energy Share:0.0007% (F21)
Water Consumption:677,000 litres (de-icing) + 692,000 litres (hangars)
Waste Generated:5,174 tonnes (aircraft) + 64.2 tonnes (office)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Social Sustainability
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Lowest CO2 emission intensity amongst competitor airlines in F20 (57.2 grams per RPK).
  • Continued investment in fleet innovation to maintain a strong edge versus competitors.

Social Achievements

  • Launched "Cabin Crew to Captain" and "Cabin Crew to Office" programmes to improve workforce diversity.
  • Employee engagement score at 8.1, slightly ahead of industry average.
  • Successfully achieved 67% of open positions filled with internal talent.

Governance Achievements

  • Improved Board gender diversity by 9% to 27%.
  • Improved Management Team diversity by 10% to 27%.
  • Introduced a new Anti-Slavery Policy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce CO2 emission intensity to 43g per RPK by F30.
  • Achieve 20% women in flight crew by F30.
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted revenue and operations.
  • Lower load factors due to the pandemic increased emission intensity.
  • Travel restrictions caused by the pandemic led to operational inefficiencies and passenger compensation concerns.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implemented enhanced hygiene measures.
  • Minimized cost and cash burn while investing in network expansion and fleet renewal.
  • Automated key touchpoints like refunds and introduced a travel restrictions map.
  • Secured financing from the Bank of England and through a Eurobond issuance.
  • Developed a new health and safety protocol for flights.
  • Implemented a new Anti-Slavery Policy.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Yearly compliance checks via online questionnaire.

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events impacting operations.
Transition Risks
  • Carbon taxation; sustainable aviation fuels; technology obsolescence; public opinion.
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products; adoption of next-generation aircraft technology.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD

Certifications: IOSA

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Wizz Air's operations connect communities and economies, while striving to reduce its environmental footprint.

Awards & Recognition

  • Greenairport Partner of the Year Award (Budapest Airport)
  • 2020 Airline of the Year (Air Transport World)

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:3,430,500 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:2,646,743 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:2,290 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:781,467 tCO2e/year
Water Consumption:4,915,600 l/year
Waste Generated:10,777.9 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:60.7 gCO2/RPK

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environment
  • People
  • Governance
  • Economy

Environmental Achievements

  • Maintained the lowest CO2 (grams) emitted per revenue passenger kilometre in the industry.
  • Received an award from ch-aviation for the world’s third youngest aircraft fleet.
  • Received the lowest ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics among its competitors in Europe.
  • Received a score of 31 points in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, ahead of many competitors.

Social Achievements

  • Maintained an employee engagement score of 7.0, broadly aligned with the industry average.
  • Improved Board gender diversity from 27% to 30%, and Management Team diversity from 27% to 34%.
  • Filled 54% of open positions with internal talent.
  • Launched several programs to increase female representation in the flight deck (Internal Cadet Programme, Cabin Crew to Captain Programme, Wizz Air Pilot Academy Programme).

Governance Achievements

  • Established a separate Sustainability and Culture Committee.
  • Improved climate-related disclosures, aligning with TCFD recommendations.
  • Submitted first disclosure to the Carbon Disclosure Project and S&P Global.
  • Commitment Letter to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) was accepted.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero emissions by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce carbon emission intensity from flight operations by 25% until 2030.
  • Qualify as a SAF supply chain as of 2025.
  • Drive noise reduction through increased Chapter 14 emission standard compliance from the current 70% to 100% by 2028.
  • Achieve 40% female gender diversity in the Management Team by 2026.
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce water consumption.

Environmental Challenges

  • COVID-19 pandemic impacting operations and financial performance.
  • War in Ukraine affecting operations, employees, and markets.
  • High inflation across cost lines.
  • Limited availability and high cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Mitigation Strategies
  • Diversification of the network to absorb adversity.
  • Investment in the newest technology Airbus A321neo aircraft.
  • Strong cash position and investment-grade balance sheet.
  • Renegotiation of key long-term supply agreements.
  • Implementation of fuel-saving initiatives.
  • Working with stakeholders to qualify a SAF supply chain.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy implemented in April 2022.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Operational disruption due to extreme weather.
  • Asset damage.
  • Supply chain disruption.
  • Market disruption.
Transition Risks
  • Policy risks (tax policy, carbon pricing, SAF regulations).
  • Liability risks (emission and climate damage litigation).
  • Technology risks (disruptive aviation innovation).
  • Market risks (sustainable preferences, investor sentiment).
  • Reputation risks (climate activism).
Opportunities
  • Airbus ZEROe Hydrogen Project collaboration.
  • Potential pathways to net zero.
  • Increased availability of SAF.
  • Offsetting technologies.
  • Airports' net zero plans.
  • Consumer trends favoring sustainable airlines.
  • Resource efficiency advantages.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD

Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)

Awards & Recognition

  • World Finance – Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline 2022
  • ch-aviation – Youngest Fleet Award

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:6,194,402 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:4,811,337 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:1,463 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:1,381,602 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:0.005%
Water Consumption:6,471,050 liters/year
Waste Generated:3,575 tonnes/year
Carbon Intensity:53.8 gCO2/RPK

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Governance
  • Employee Well-being
  • Community Engagement

Environmental Achievements

  • Decreased average carbon emissions intensity by 11.3% compared to the previous financial year. Achieved the lowest CO2/RPK performance in company history.
  • Share of new "neo" technology aircraft surpassed 50%.

Social Achievements

  • Launched a fixed rostering scheme for crew, improving work-life balance.
  • Paid a one-off bonus to all staff below Head Level to help with cost-of-living increases.
  • Increased investment in Wizz Air Malta to better address disruptions.
  • Consolidated corporate headquarters to foster collaboration and reduce costs.
  • Employee engagement score of 6.4, broadly aligned with industry average.

Governance Achievements

  • Established a Safety, Security and Operational Compliance Committee.
  • Received the "Cyber Security Certificate of Compliance" from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
  • Improved climate-related disclosures.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero emissions by 2050 (target under evaluation)
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve 30% renewable energy by 2030
  • Reduce CO2/RPK by 25% by 2030 (vs. 2020 baseline)
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce water consumption

Environmental Challenges

  • Increased costs (notably jet fuel), supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.
  • High customer dissatisfaction due to operational metrics not meeting historical achievements.
  • High jet fuel costs and currency volatility.
  • Airspace limitations due to the war in Ukraine.
  • Shortage of air traffic controllers.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Focus on cost reduction (both absolute and unit cost).
  • Established specific KPIs to measure core ULCC principles.
  • Increased investments in staff, supply chain, and operational resilience.
  • Diversified supplier base to increase reliability and flexibility.
  • Reinstated jet fuel hedging policy.
  • Improved operational performance and customer satisfaction.
  • Implemented risk management policies to eliminate competitor advantages on fuel and currency costs.
  • Expanded geographic footprint to build market share.
  • Automated processes to deal with higher transaction volumes.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Change in weather patterns
  • Acute flooding
  • Intense storms
  • Heatwaves
  • Drought
Transition Risks
  • Change in carbon tax policy
  • ETS (carbon pricing)
  • Emissions reduction regulations
  • SAF regulation
  • Technological feasibility issues of SAF production
  • High price elasticity of demand
  • Reduced demand due to sustainability-conscious customers
  • Investor sentiment
  • Brand reputation
Opportunities
  • Lower emissions intensity compared to competitors
  • Investment in SAF production and research

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, TCFD

Third-party Assurance: Deloitte Auditing and Consulting Ltd. Hungary (limited assurance for GHG emissions)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
  • Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Wizz Air's initiatives contribute to these goals through fleet renewal, fuel efficiency improvements, and the use of sustainable aviation fuels.

Awards & Recognition

  • Global Environmental Sustainability Airline Group of the Year (CAPA)
  • EMEA Environmental Sustainability Airline of the Year